Cyril cuts the ribbon at opening of new courts, 1996
Friends at Piha have recently learned that Cyril Eric Murphy had died peacefully at home in Turangi on 23 May 2011. He was born 19 August 1930 at Hawera so died just short of his 81st birthday.
For 30 years, Cyril was a well known figure at Piha before he moved to Turangi in 1996. He originally arrived at Piha in the 1960s with his elderly parents who ran a coffee bar/kiosk at Barnett Hall. Cyril worked as administration manager at New Zealand Motor Holdings, and then after he retired in 1985, worked in administration for a garage in Glen Eden.
When he went to Turangi, the Piha community sent him off with a big party in Barnett Hall, decorated with masses of green balloons.
Cyril lived in an old bach on the west side of Garden Road with a grand view of the beach. He had a corgi called Basil whom he taught to yodel when the theme music for Coronation Street started on TV. Christmas cards from Cyril were sent “With Love and Affection from Cyril and Basil”. He liked entertaining, and would set the table with silverware and fine china. He was a good cook and everything left over went into his fritters, which had to be treated with caution.
Known affectionately to some of his friends as “Uncle Squirrel”, he was a single man, short in stature, involved in everything at Piha and a good talker. Ross Pownall describes him as a “good small community man” and the “De facto mayor of Piha”. He was R&R president for a time, secretary for years and kept immaculate records. He was street coordinator for Neighbourhood Watch from its inception. Having played piano for dances in Hawera, he donated the piano that resides in the Barnett Hall. He was particularly involved in the Tennis Club where he was president 1985-1995 and a life member. Tennis admin was more his forte than the court, though he is remembered for an unreturnable slice backhand. On the other hand he had an 8 or 9 handicap in golf.
Cyril (left) with John Mannall and Don Wright, work on new PO
He was also one of the stalwarts who got the Post Office going in the old Telecom building. The photo shows Cyril (left) with John Mannall and Don Wright, hard at work on renovating the building to become Piha’s PO.
Cyril was a dab hand at growing plants from seeds and c0llected seed around Piha. He had a little glasshouse and from there supplied plants for public reserves and private properties all around Piha. One of Cyril’s legacies is the many coastal banksia and Kermadec pohutukawa around Piha, not trees we would plant now, but before the days we knew too much about eco-systems, Cyril was spreading his plants far and wide.
Cyril was a particular friend of Jack Kingston, John McKenzie, Jan O’Connor, Betty Hanson and the Pownalls, but known to everyone at Piha.
Cyril’s death has prompted some reminiscensing on the part of some of the older residents of Piha. Graeme Webber, current president of the R&R penned the following memories of the unique character that was Cyril.